🦀 Crabs & Connection: A Taste That Takes Me Home

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

There are certain tastes that don’t just touch your tongue—they transport you. For me, it’s crabs. One bite of that tender meat dusted in Old Bay, and I’m not just having a meal—I’m back in my childhood. Back to summer afternoons surrounded by laughter, newspaper-covered tables, and the kind of joy that only comes when you’re with your people. Growing up, crabs weren’t just food—they were an event. A moment. A memory waiting to happen. My aunt Tia and my uncle Bud were always there, sitting beside me, gently helping me pick through the shells when I was still too little to crack them just right. Uncle Bud had a way of making me feel like I was doing it all by myself, even when he was quietly sliding the meat my way. And Aunt Tia? She was the cheerleader—laughing, wiping my hands, keeping the conversation light and full of love. Those moments weren’t about fancy décor or curated tablescapes—they were about something even more beautiful: time. Togetherness. Connection. We’d sit for hours, elbows bumping, music playing, stories flying across the table like shells we’d tossed aside. It wasn’t just about eating. It was about being. Being present. Being silly. Being surrounded by family who showed love in the simplest ways—like cracking a crab claw just to hand you the sweetest bite. Now, as someone who plans and styles events for a living, I often find myself trying to recreate that feeling. Because at the end of the day, the most luxurious moments aren’t always the ones with chandeliers and champagne. Sometimes they’re found in the quiet rhythm of picking crabs with people who love you, just as you are. And every time I eat crabs today, I carry Tia and Bud with me. I hear their laughter. I feel their hands guiding mine. I taste love.